\u201cI think I\u2019ve changed my game, and scoring a few more goals like last year has definitely helped.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cCan I beat last season\u2019s total? I\u2019ve not really thought about it.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe position I play, the manager always says you need to be contributing with goals and assists.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve done that for the last couple of years and I just want to keep going.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt begins with working hard and I\u2019ve started this season with a couple of goals and a few assists, so I just want to keep going and keep scoring as many as I can.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve created a lot of chances in the last couple of seasons.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n We are , and always have been aware that there are different angles to different stories in the Scottish media, largely down to the Fat Controller himself, and that was more noticable than ever in the media narrative of two stories this weekend.<\/p>\n The McGinn story, where Celtic are being portrayed as mean and horrible for not paying the \u00a34m asking price.<\/p>\n Be prepared for a Daily Record “hotline ” special, as to why Celtic fans don’t want him anyway, to try to dissuade the player from joining in January…<\/p>\n And the Kyle Lafferty story, where “rangers ” have bid around \u00a3200,000 to take the lump of wood back to Ibrox. Which is a ridiculously low offer whatever your feelings on Lafferty, yet somehow its Hearts now who are not playing ball.<\/p>\n Get used to it. It’s going to happen all week.<\/p>\n Although, here’s something you might want to keep an eye on.<\/p>\n Craig Dawson, mentioned in Diaries Passim , <\/em>has handed in a transfer request at West Brom. The defender is in Brendans Big Book of Defenders I Like\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Elsewhere, and Celtic may appeal the two match ban for Jozo Simunovic, which would allow him to feature in tomorrows qualifier second leg against Rosenberg.<\/p>\n Appealing means he can lay, though if it fails he misses the next two. But by then Dedryck Boyata will be back.<\/p>\n Surely it would be better to play Lustig alongside Ajer and keep Gamboa at right back, where his pace would provide an outball should Rosenberg cause the defence any problems ?<\/p>\n They aren’t going to lie down, as their interim boss explains..<\/p>\n I\u2019ve had more time to think about the game on this occasion because it was very busy ahead of the first leg.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe have to decide whether to play the same or make changes.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe main focus is on playing Celtic and finding a way to win the game. We will assess the players to see how they are.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThis time we have Erik Botheim back, who was away for the first leg with Norway at the European Under-19s Finals.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMatthias Vilhjalmsson is also getting fitter after being out for 10 months. He is a very important member of the squad and he is an option, too.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Thats a fair point..<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to decide whether to play the same or make changes.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n He’s getting the hang of this management lark, isn’t he ?<\/p>\n Celtic will need to be fully switched on tomorrow. The loss of an early goal could turn the tie into a behind the couch affair, so Rodgers needs to decide whether or not to go for the early goal himself-not literally, that would be silly-or to try to ride out any early pressure.<\/p>\n Lets hope he’s got the hang of this management lark.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Those of us who suspect that the game in Scotland is rigged were not surprised to see that Hearts made it through to the last sixteen of the League cup. They were docked two points for fielding an ineligible player against cove Rangers in a previous match, which is a novel and refreshing change from the customary three.<\/p>\n Had they been docked three, they would not have made the next round. ( I think-it’s a silly competition at this stage with all sorts of additional rules, so I’m not sure )<\/p>\n It’s not even August , and the season is a bogey already…<\/p>\n One way of looking at it, though, is that if a club has been found to field ineligible players, there is now a precedent of two points docked, which could be useful in any arguments later on…<\/p>\n Despite the fix being in, Celtic will be looking to keep their one hundred per cent trophy haul under Rodgers, and the campaign begins on August 18 with a Glasgow derby.. the full draw..<\/p>\n Livingston v Motherwell<\/p>\n Dundee v Ayr United<\/p>\n Dunfermline v Hearts<\/p>\n Kilmarnock v Rangers<\/p>\n Aberdeen v St Mirren<\/p>\n Partick Thistle v Celtic<\/p>\n Hibernian v Ross County<\/p>\n Queen of the South v St Johnstone<\/p>\n Stevie Staunch over at Ibrox has got a fairly tough start to his management career, with four out of his first five games away from home…including Pittodrie and Celtic Park.<\/p>\n The omens aren’t good..<\/p>\n Mind you, lets not presume they are as bad as we think…<\/p>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.tenor.com\/images\/c5efac9e065358692bcee455646955a0\/tenor.gif\")
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